Public art at Broward courthouse isn't best use of $610,000

Particularly since it's for an artistically pleasing breezeway at the not-yet-built Broward County Courthouse. Particularly when the project was selected without a competitive process.

But hey, it's only money.

Open-minded as I am, I talked to a big advocate of the project, Broward Mayor Sue Gunzberger, who led the 6-3 county commission vote favoring the project.

OK, commissioner. Sell me on this idea.

"[The courthouse] is the face to the community," Gunzberger told me. "This is very important. The part of the community going into the courthouse is under stress.

"If we can give them beauty and solitude and something that takes away the heaviness of the day and helps the mood for 10 to 15 minutes, it's important."

I don't mean to be crass, but I'm not sure $610,000 in public funds should be used to relieve the stress of people who are leaving divorce court, paying a ticket or perhaps facing a murder trial. But I digress.

"I am one of the cheapest [commissioners] when it comes to spending OPM — other people's money," Gunzberger said. "For those that do go to the courthouse, this is important. I see so many communities where public art is so much a part of the community."

I appreciate Gunzberger's advocacy. And granted, the $610,000 couldn't be used to feed the hungry. They are building funds.

But in this economy, shouldn't we be looking for a better use for funds like that?

"I just didn't see the need," she said. "A lot of it is outside on the front of the building. It was a waste of funds to put all that work on the outside of the building. The courthouse shuts down at 5 p.m., and nobody utilizes it after 5.

"My first idea was have kids put up [artwork] at the courthouse.

"I just feel like you should exercise some conservatism."

Conservatism is not my one of my favorite words, but Sharief is correct.

And somehow, she put the public art debate into terms that are really fitting.

"If a person goes to the courthouse in a paddy wagon," she said, "they aren't looking around and saying 'My, my, what a nice mural.' "

Awesome.

I suggest etching that quote into the cornerstone of the new courthouse when we have the grand opening.